Help with cob build testing

I am putting together a 6 cob citizen clu048 1818s for my 4x4x6 bloom tent I am using 1 Meanwell 185h 48a driver for now but plan to get a second one next month $$ restraints. I have a multimeter but not sure how to use it to test what current/voltage/ma etc so I don't run them too high for now...any help is greatly appreciated...should I use a kill a watt meter instead?

Seriously, i am not trying to be dick here, but did the meter come with a manual? mines like a friggin book

To see how much voltage is being drawn, you put the meter probes across the output leads while the LEDs are running. You have it set to voltage and the appropriate range of course, and put the probes on with the right polarity. To see how much current is drawn, you have to put the probes in series with one of the output leads. I never used that function yet so not particularly clear on it myself but that's the general idea. The important thing is to have it set to the right mode. You don't want to put it in series while in voltage mode, for instance, or vice versa, across the leads in current mode. Could blow the meter out. I already knew the current output of my driver so All I tested was voltage and then multiplied to get watts.

Also when you test voltage you may need to hold the probes on there for a few seconds before it shows up. At least on mine it did. Half the time it didn't even show a readout so could just be my meter or how well I held the probes on.

BobCajun said:

To see how much voltage is being drawn, you put the meter probes across the output leads while the LEDs are running. You have it set to voltage and the appropriate range of course, and put the probes on with the right polarity. To see how much current is drawn, you have to put the probes in series with one of the output leads. I never used that function yet so not particularly clear on it myself but that's the general idea. The important thing is to have it set to the right mode.

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dont forget to move your probe from the volts/ohms socket to the amperage socket or you can blow a meter. a lot of meters have a low current like 300 mA and a high current like 10A. put it across the higher one.